Dispensing mechanism for potato planters



H. B. SPERRY. DISPENSING ME-CHANISM FOR POTATO PLANTEHS'.

WML TH mm gwn 65. Wwf m 5% vw 9. r m e y W mkv ,4 j w @L `%m.

y H. B. SPERRY. DISPENSING llvnicl'mNlslvlv FOR PoTATo PLANIERS.

' APPLICATION man nc.1.19x9. 1,410,843. PatentdMar. 28,1922.

Y SHEET' 2.

3 SHEETS- H. B. SPERRY DISPENSING. NlECHANSNI FOR' POTAT PLANTERS.

' Patented Mar. 28, 1922,

bef l y 5 if@ APPLICATION FILED DEC .1, 1919.

irse STATES PATENT orrics.

HERBERT is. SPERRYJOF CHICAGO, ILLINors, AssiGNoR 'ro INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER coMrnNY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

LnIsraNsINef MECHANISM Fon roTAfro rLANTERs.

miopia.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERBERT B. Srnniir, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the ,county` of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Dispensing Mechanism for Potato Planters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.,

This invention relates to a planting mech anism and more particularly to machines for planting potatoes.-

The main difficulty experienced with ma-v y chines which haveI heretofore 4been devised ior this purpose is that the seed dispensing mechanism is not reliable and does not deposit the potatoes in regular sequence, and at deiinite intervals.

The present inventionflias for its therefore, n ing machines and to insure the regular and accurate planting of potatoes `at definite intervals.

Object,

A further object is to `provide improved mechanism in a machine .in the class described for insuring a regular feeding oi the potatoes from the `hopper tothe planting mechanism, and to also provide means for positivelyA engaging,A conveying and' discharging the potatoes in Suchainanner that they will be accurately planted. s i

lVith these and furtherv objects in view, which-will appear as the ldescription proceeds, the invention consists briefly ot a potato plantinginachine 'having a hopper, continuously operated mechanism for 'feeding the potatoes from `the hopper yto the planting mechanism, means for agitating the potatoes in the hopper, thereby insuring their being fed ,fromthe hopper and planting mechanism of theypicker type, and coinprising means for impaling or piercing potatoes, carrying them to alposition over the furrow made by the furrow openers, and meansfor withdrawing the impaling means from the potato, thereby insuring `their release from the feeding mechanism. s

I, have illustrated one embodiment of `my improved planter in the accompanying drawings, and in these drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a plunger einbodying the invention; y

l Fig.' 2 is a' longitudinal sectional view to overcome the defectsof plant- Specification of Letters Patent.' Patented MaI-.28, 1922. i Application Yfiieii December 1, 191e. serial No. 341,755. l 'Y taken `substantially on the line 2*-2 ot Fig. l;

the cam drive for the picker fingers.

Fig. 4; is an' enlarged detail viewillustrat-` ing the drive for anism.;

section, showing' the driving connections for the agitator in the hopper;

trating in' detail the construction of 'the `hopper agitator tliefchamber or 'bowl 'into which the potatoes are fed from thelhopper; y

Fig. 10 isa detailed sectional view showing tliemounting of the theoam controlling means onthe main axle;

Fig. 11 is a. detail viewf in elevation of the mechanism shown in F 2, taken substan ti'ally on line l1`11 of Fig. 2 and looking .in the direction of the arrows. y f

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side view of one of the pickers; and f f 13 is an edge view of the same with cooperatingparts indicated in dotted lines. Y.

The potato planter, in connection with which my invention is illustrated, comprises a substantially U-shapcditi'ainehaving side members 10, atransvcrse connecting member 11 at the rear ends thereof andv a' transverse connecting member 12 which is suitably secured tothe front ends ofthe side members.` Members 10' `are extended forwardly in parallel'relatioii to eachother, as shown at 13, and these forwardlyA extending' portions have secured thereto a tongue 14 ot 'any suitable construction. The frame of the planter is supported intermediate its ends onan axle 15, which inturn is supported by transportingwheels 16. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the axle is mounted in bearings 17 suitablyseeuredto the frame members l0.

`The potatoes are carried at therear end of the frame 10 in a'hopper 36 lwhich is suitably Secured to chute or throat member 37,' the member 37 being rigidly mounted in Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailview showing Fig. Gis an enlarged sectional view illusie` feeding mechanism and' loc , which are pivoted at theirjlower ends in tending lugs 46 -which pivot pin 43' with lugs 47 formed onthe rear VAs clearly shown in be described, and attention is brackets 38 which in 4turn are secured to the ladjacent this opening for feeding the pota toes'forwardly into, afeeding bowl or chamber 40.

The mechanism for feeding the potatoes from the hopper to the chamber 4() will next e l directed particularly to Figs. 2 and 4. n e A This feeding mechanism comprises a pair of overlapping` hinged plates 41 and 42, these plates being hingedly connected by a pivot pin 43. The Vrear plate41 is rigidly bolted at its'rear end'to a pair of arms 44 brackets 45 carriedvbyY the side frame members 10 Vof the planter. VTheplate 41 is pro'-v vided 4at its front endwith downwardly ex'- are connected by the end of the plate 42.` Fig. 2, the. platej 41. extendsl overthe rear end ofy the plate 42, thereby 'forming -a shoulder 49 which is adapted to Vengage and feed "the, potatoes. The f front endl of the plate 42 is supported by a pair oflugs carried by the side members of the chamber 40. The arms 44 are driven from the main axle 15'by means of ari-eccentric 51 which engages an eccentric ring 52 carried by the i front end of a link 53, the'rear end of the linkv 53 being bent laterally and engaging one of thea-rms 44. In'order-to provide for a variable drive a plurality of apertures 54 is formed'in the arm 44 and the end of the link 53 Yis adapted to'V engage in one of these apertures.

In addition to the feeding means disposed attheoutlet opening of the hopper, means is also providedrfor agitatingthe potatoes in the hopper, this means comprising plate 55 which is `secured toa casting 56 by a bolt in front of and below is mounted anarm three members,

57', the casting 56 being journaled as illustratedin Figa] 6-on the front wall of thev hopper. Casting 56 is also provided with laterally extending flanges 58 between which 59. The arm 59 has connected thereto at its freeend one end of a link. 60, .the opposite end of the link'being pivotedto the arm 44Vopposite arm 45 to which the link 53 is connected.

Having described the means for agitating y and'for` feeding potatoes from'the hopper to the bowl or chamber 40,'1 will'next descr-ibethe construction of this bowl, and will then describe the means lfor feeding the potatoes from, the chamber 40 to vtheir discharging position.

The chamber 40 `is disposed immediately the hopper and is adapted to receive the .potatoes from the feed plate 42, and this chamber comprises namely two4 side members 7 5 travel in a manner H into the potatoes'an'd to withdrawthe spikes' Vand a central member. The side members 61 are secured tothe side frame members 10 of the planter and are beveled on their inner edges. The central member`62 is disposed between these side members and is providedwith two beveled edges 63 which are adapted to form with the beveled edges of the side members a pair of V-shap'ed grooves which are adapted Vto receive potatoes from the feeding plate 42. lThe'side members 61 are spaced slightly from but are secured Yto the central member 62 by means of rearwardly extending lugs 64 formed on the side members, these lugs being secured to corresponding lugs formed onV the central niember62. From this description it will be seen that the chamber or bowl 40 is provided with two V-shaped grooves',the members forming these grooves being slightly spaced'apart and being rigidly cony nected to each other and to theV frame of the planter. The means for feeding the potatoes from the chamber or bowl"40.`vf'ill next be described. v

'This feeding rality yofjngers 66 Awhich are pivoted at their rear ends, as shown at'G'T, to series of plates 68, the Y cured to substantially.triangular plates V69 which in turn arel'secured to av sleeve v70 which turns on-a'bushing on axle 15. AEach of ythe fingers 166 `has secured theretojadja'- cent its free ends a pair of spikes or teeth 71, these spikes being secured on the opposite sides to the fingers, and thereby being spaced from each other asfshown in Fig. 13. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, each of the members 68 has aout-away .portion at one end, thereby forming an outwardlyl projecting finger 72 andan inclined end portion 7 The portion 73 and finger 72 are disposed between s. the spike members 71 and means comprises a plu' vplates 68 being rigidly 'ses` gaged by a cam 7,6 having oppositely facin which the rollers ing annular tracks 76 to force the spikes therefrom.

In lthe embodiment ofthe invention,k illus-y tratedtwo sets of picker fingers controlled by the opposite cam tracks 76a are shown,

. wardly extending lug each of the sets of picker fingers comprising` three fingers andthe fingersof the two sets being equally spaced around the mainl ingle in alternating' relation `as shown -in describing the construction, one set :of fingers and the cam operating means for this set will be described,the other set being exactly similar and operating in the same manner. f g f As illustrated in Fig. l0, the cam member 76 is preferably 4formed integralw-ith a central bearing `member 77, the cam tracks fac-y ingv outwardlyfrom a central web 78 also preferably formed integrall withthe bearf IiDng member. Each ofthe rollers 7 5 carried y the track, and as these fingers arel pivoted at their rear ends, asshown at` 67, the movement `of the roller in the cam track will` control the `movement `of `the. spike meme bers 7l which are carried at the freeends of the picker fingers. `The cam tracks are designed with a portion shaped to swing the fingers 66 in a manner` to force the spike members or teeth into the potatoes as these members pass through the grooves or channels formed in the bowl or chamber 40, and to withdraw these spike membersfrom the potatoes'when the pickers reach dropping position as shown in Figures 2 and 3.` The lingers 72` formed on the ends of the mem bers 68 extend through the `spaces formed between the members 6l and 62 of the chamber 40 and support the potatoes -in a position tol be pierced bythe spike members 71. The lugs 7a also assist inpositioning the potatoes in the chamber and in addition to this Vengageany surplus potatoes and prevent their being carried 'over the picker lingers. The central bearing member 77 of the controlling cams isloosely mounted on the sleeve above described, and` is prevented from rotation bymeanso'f a down- 79 formed ou the `cam to a lug 80 which is frame member 62 of member and secured carried by the central the chamber 40.

The driving connection for the picker` fingers will next be described. o e

Theaxle l5 lhas secured thereto'a clutch member 8l which is adapted to be engaged by a spring-pressed reciprocable clutch member 82, this member being normally pressedy into engagement with the member 8l by a spring 83. The clutch member 82 has secured thereto, .or formed integral therewith a sprocket `wheelv87 which is connected by a chain 88 to a sprocket wheel 89 carried bya shaft 90. The sha-ft 90 has secured thereto a series, of sprocket wheels 91,` and 93, these sprocketsbeing adapted toV be connected by a chain 94 to either oneof a pair of sprockets y95 and 96, these last 'i sprockets ybeing secured `to the sleeve 701` camv tracks 76a pickerfingers is disposed. in a, cam

link connection 'whichxcarries the plates 69, as above de scribed` -Asvthe sleeve 70is driven bythe connections just described, the plates 69 will be rotated, and in view of the fact that the the picker fingers will be operatedto engage and discharge the potatoes.

A pair of 'sh1elds`97 is provided, theseV shields beingsecured respectively to the side frame members `IO/.of the planter in a position above the chambers() and atone side of thefeeding'mechanism. The shields 97 have secured thereto a pair of inwardly projecting plates 98, these plates beingprovided for the purpose -of preventing surf,

- plus .potatoes from` beingcarried over by the feeding mechanism.` Additional means for preventing the carrying overof potatoes is Lprovided `in resilient inwardly extending fingers 99 which are also secured to` the plates 97 in the rearof the plates98.

It was found in practice that surplus pota. toes were carried around on o periphery formed bythe cam ring 76 and in order to prevent this, the casting having the cam tracks formed integral therewith, f is are maintained stationary, e

the o smooth v provided with an upwardly yand rearwardly extending web `102 or serrated on its outeredge as shown at 103. `It will vbe readily seen that this ser- 9 rated web construction will tend to dislodge any surplus potatoes preventing them from beingcarried over, these potatoes dropping into the chamber or bowl 40. e

Havingldcscribed the construction of my improved planter, I will now brieiiy` outline the operation oflthe same: i

i .ln operationthe potatoes-willbe lfed from the hopper 36 and fromrthe throat 37 of the( hopper by means of the oscillating' feeding plates 41742, lthese plates beingoperated by the link. connection'l and eccentric drive :3l-52 from the shaft l5. crank arms 44 will. also set inoperation agitat-` ing plate, this plate being oscillated by the 60. As the potatoes are fed forwardly by the plates ll-4t2 they are forced intok the bowl 'or chamber d0, certain of the potatoes being disposed in each of the, grooves formed between the members 6l and 62. .WhenI disposed f inl these grooves,fthey will be engaged by the .iingers72 and'moved upwardly, and as; they `are positioned bythese ngers they willy be impaled von `the teeth orspike members7l, the cam tracks 76 `controllingthe.fingers 66 in such a man-` nerthat the spike members will be forced into the potatoes. `Any, surplus ,potatoes will bepushed'to one sideby the lug 74, and if they are ,carried upwardly,will be disen gaged or forced" downwardly by the fingers 99 and by the, `shield plate ,98. ol'lphe rearwardly extending web 10.2 with itslroughthis web being notched f Qscillationof thev y ll O cned edge 103 also serves to prevent any poo periphery reach a predetermined position above the Y grou1id,the cam-tracks control the fingers 66 -in Vsuch va manner that the spike member pressedv `in 'the following claims AVf1-will be withdrawn lfrom the' potatoes, the

potatoes being held by the fingers 72, lug 'la and portion 73 ot themember 68. v.

Fromthe above description, it will be seen that av practical and; efficient constructionhas been provided for positively feedingthe potatoes from the hopper, engaging the pota-` toes after they have been fed fromthe hoppen/conveying them to a predetermined gposition and Vpositively disclnirgingthem from the feeding mechanism. vlVhile' Ihaveinthe above specification dery scribed one-'practicalv Yembodiment of *my inu vention, it 'should' beunderstood ithatthe insaid plates, and means for reciprocating said plates.

-2.'-In a'planten/a hopper having a discharge openingV therein, reciprocable feed.- ing mechanism *disposed below said dis"- -V charge 4opening andjincluding a pairiof plates hinged toeac'hother, the rear plate overlapping the front plate and `forming va shoulder by means of which' material Vin said Y hopper is fed,

and means for reciprocating saidplates. f i 3,. In a planter, a hopper having a discharge opening therein, reciprocable feeding mechanism f disposed below said vopening and including a pair of plates hinged toeach other, one yof said plates overlapping the other of said plates, means connected to one offsaidplates for reciprocating saidplates,

and means for supporting thefother of said lates as itis being reciprocated.'

*4. In a planter, a Jframe, a hopper'carried therebyandhaving a discharge-opening, reciprocable feeding mechanism including a pluralityof upwardly curve-d plates having overlapping edges disposedA below said opening, operating mechanism connected to one of said plates, and means carried by the framei'or supporting the other of. said plates as said platesy are reciprocated.

15. -In a planter, a frame, a-hopper carried thereby and having a feeding `mechanism 'disposed `below` saidopeningfand,,including a pair of plates disposedyone in front of' the other, means "connected toone of said plates for 'reciprocating said plates, means 'for `pivotally connecting of the cam.v VAs the*potatoes discharge opening,

ig-iiogs-ia said plates, and mea-ns carried 'by the frame for supporting the frontfplate as said plates are `reci'procated.`

6. In apotato planter, feeding mechanism including a rotatable member, fingers movably carried thereby, teeth carried by said fingers, and means carried `by said rotatable membersand'positioned in `advance of 'said Vfingers for 'engaging and removing from'the path of movement of said fingers surplus lpotatoes.

7. In a potato planter, feeding mechanism including "a rotatable ally mounted thereon, fingers,

iteeth carried by said engaging and positioningv the potatoes as they yare'being impaledon' said teeth, including means ,positionedv inadvanee of said -iingers for engaging 'and' reinoviifigl from Ithe path ofl movement-` of'-v said f fingers surplus potatoes.

8. In a potato planter, Ateeding mechani sm including y a 'rotatable member, :fingers pivteeth carried'by 'said otally mounted thereon, fingers, actuating means'fforfsaid fingers, and plates carried by said rotatable vmemberl and; formed 'with cut away ends positioned be-l tween said teeth for positioning the potatoes asf'they are being impaled on `said teeth and for discharging the potatoes from said teeth lasfsa-id teeth are withdrawn.

9. In a potato planter, feeding mechanismV including a rotatable member` fingers pivotally mountedthereon, spaced teeth carried by said Aiingers and projecting outwardly therefrom, outwardly projecting members rigidly mounted on vsaid rotatable member :ind'havingend portions cut awayfto provide :in inclined edge and vprojecting finger disposed,b'etween said 'teeth lfor .positioning ythe potatoes as'they ai'e'being'1impaled onI said teeth, and discharging the potatoes from said teeth, and means for positively controlling-saidfingers in a mannerto force said teeth toward or away-from the'potato positioning means carried by said'rotatable member.

V"10. Ina potato planter,Y feeding mecha-V nism including 'a rotatable member, fingers pivoted" thereto, teeth carried byvsaid {ingersand outwardly"projecting lugs carried by said `rotatable membery forV discharging surplus potatoes romthe path of movement of said rotatable member' and said fingers. ll. In a potato planteigif'eeding mechanism including' a rotatable Vmember,y fingers pivotally mounted on said rotatable member and having potato engaging means thereon, cani controlling means means 'carried kby said cam controlling therefrom, thereby preventing said-surplus potatoes from' being carried over by said rotatable member and said fingeis.

means for Vdischarging'the surplus potatoesv member, 'fingers "pivotactuating lmeans 'for said fingers, lmeans carried by said rotatable member for for said fingers and- 1,410,343 v si.

l2. In a potato planter, `feeding mecha-v to engage the potatoes disposed in said nism including a rotatable member, fingers grooves. y pivotally mounted on said rotatable member 15. ln a potato planter', a receptacle hav- 30 and having potato engaging' means thereon, i ing a plurality of longitudinally disposed V- o cam controlling means for said fingers and shaped grooves therein, a longitudinal openserrated means carried by said cam controling positioned at the lowest point of each of ling means for discharging the surplus posaid grooves, .feeding mechanism including i tatoes therefrom, thereby preventing said a rotatable member, potato positioning. 35 surplus potatoes from being carried over means adapted to pass through said longi- 10 by said rototable member and said fingers. tudinal openings and potato engaging iin- 13. In a potato planter, a receptacle havgers pivoted to said rotatable member and ing alongitudinal opening and a parallel disposed adjacent said potato positioning longitudinal groove therein, feeding mechameans, and means for positively actuatingeo nism including a rotatable member, means said pivoted fingers in a direction to engage l5 carried by said rotatable member and disthe potatoes disposed in said grooves.

posed in a position to pass through said 16. In a potato planter, a receptacle havopening and longitudinally oi" said groove ing a plurality of longitudinally disposed,` for positioning potatoes and means carried arcuate V-shaped grooves therein` feeding 45 by said rotatable member for engaging the mechanism comprising a rotatable member,

20 potatoes so positioned. f fingers pivoted thereto, outwardly projecting lll. In a potato planter, a receptacle havteeth .carried by said fingers and disposed ing a plurality of V-shaped `longitudinal in a position to pass through said grooves,

grooves therein, feeding mechanism includand means for forcing' said teeth outwardly 50 ing a rotatable member, fingers pivoted into said grooves to engage the potatoes thereto and disposed in a position to pass positioned therein.' v

through said grooves, and means for posi- In testimony whereof I aiiix mv signature.

tively actuating said fingers in a direction HERBERT B. SPER'RY. 

